Broken beer bottles and cigarette butts are posing a serious threat to the health and safety of visitors and wildlife at local watering holes and reserves around Dubbo.
Local fishing columnist for the Daily Liberal Matt Hanson has expressed outrage at the mess left behind by campers at Whylandra Crossing last weekend.
Mr Hanson said not only is the state of the Whylandra site “disgusting” but the state other reserves around the region is sadly slipping.
“It’s absolutely disgusting,” Mr Hanson said.
“People are just trashing the joint.
“They are wrecking it for the kids,” he said as he pointed out the hundreds of discarded bottles and bits of rubbish present near several bonfire sites.
“You wouldn’t even swim here now in fear that there could be broken glass on the bottom,” he said.
Mr Hanson said he and a few others are currently trying to start up a community fish re-stocking program around the area to ensure the future of fishing in Dubbo.
But Mr Hanson said the confidence is slipping as the pollution continues.
“If people are going to treat our reserves like this then what is the point?” he said.
Whylandra reserve is a popular site for fishing enthusiasts and campers.
Its still waters attract plenty of Murray Cod and Yellow Belly and on the odd occasion Silver Perch.
Mr Hanson said he had also noticed “outrageous” pollution at Devils Elbow, Buttlers, Drivers, The Weir (both the north and south end), Peach Tree reserve and the Geurie bridge.
“Its just got to stop,” he said.
Mr Hanson said he would be approaching council soon to see if they could assist in getting bins installed out at the Whylandra site.
“If there is somewhere for these people to put their rubbish, they may be more inclined to clean it up.”
anna.yeo@ruralpress.com